Preliminary questions before we go anywhere else:
  1. What plant do we want to use as our subject?
    1. Easy to obtain, inexpensive, easy to care for
    2. What sort of care will said subject require?
  2. Which pollutant should we consider? Car exhaust interests me most and should we choose such, it should be decided:
    1. How long plant should be exposed to exhaust
    2. How can we protect the plant from the heat (to eliminate this extra variable)
    3. How much exposure time for each group
    4. What sorts of components make up the emissions of our chosen source
  3. Would we rather run a large test group or multiple trials?


These are good preliminary questions but not really really in the library research format. Can you modify them to match page 25 in your research handbook? ~ Dr. Harland

Subject to be studied:
1. What sort of care will Arabidopsis thaliana require?
2. What other components are important to consider? (any additional background information, eg sensitivities)
Independent Variable
3. What components are in car exhaust?
4. How can we manipulate concentration?
5. What methods can we use to create a sealed environment?
Dependent Variable
6. How do the plants respond as a result of various levels and/or concentration of car exhaust?
7. Does growth, pH, number of leaves, color, or flowering ability change as a result?
Connections:
8. Will the plants possibly grow better with the increased amount of CO2 or will the other components of the emissions outweigh any kind of benefit?
Other:
9. What safety concerns do we need to consider with car exhaust exposure?

LER-notes